AIRBORNE RADAR SYSTEMSEQUIPMENT
RADAR AND ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYSTEMS HANDBOOK ISSUE 110
and air-to-ground automatic target cueing, according
to the manufacturer.
AN/APG-83 SABR
The AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is
being developed as an upgrade option for the F-16. It
is designed to replace the existing AN/APG-66 and AN/
APG-68 conventional radars used by legacy F-16s. The
AN/APG-83 SABR design is part of a planned upgrade
programme for around 350 USAF F-16A/B Block 40/42
and F-16C/D Block 50/52 multirole combat aircraft.
AN/APY-1/2
The S-band AN/APY-1 radar is installed in a large
rotodome above the fuselage of the Boeing KE-3A/E-
3A/B Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS) aircraft in NATO (E-3A), Saudi Arabian (KE-3A)
and USAF (E-3B) service. The S-band AN/APY-2 radar
equips Boeing E-3C/D/F AWACS aircraft in French (E-3F),
UK (E-3D) and USAF (E-3C) service. The AN/SPY-2 radar
is also used onboard the Boeing E-767 AWACS aircraft of
the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Range: 400km
MESA
The L-band Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array
(MESA) radar is a phased-array radar fitted to Boeing
737-700 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The radar’s antenna is mounted longitudinally above
the fuselage. It detects airborne and maritime targets
simultaneously and electronically scans a 360° area in
under ten seconds. The radar’s identification friend or foe
system is integrated with the overall MESA architecture
and phased-array technology allows electronic beam-
steering and multi-mode operation.
PHAZOTRON NIIR
Komar
The Komar is a multi-role radar aimed at upgrades of
older Chinese and Russian combat aircraft. Air-to-air
modes include boresight, head-up display, multiple
target tracking and vertical manoeuvring. Air-to-
ground modes include Doppler-beam sharpening,
and track-while-scan. The system can also carry out
ground moving target identification. Weight: 120kg
Range: 170km
NORTHROP GRUMMAN
AN/APG-66
The AN/APG-66 is a coherent pulse-Doppler fire control
radar originally developed for the F-16, now adapted
to platforms including Hawk 200, PBN Defender,
Skyhawk, T-39N and aerostats. Compatible with radar-
guided missiles, including AMRAAM, MICA, Penguin,
Skyflash, Sparrow and IR-guided Sidewinder. The
system uses a mechanically scanned slotted flat-plate
antenna. Range: 148km
AN/APG-68
The AN/APG-68 is a multi-mode radar with a planar
array antenna fitted to F-16 variants from Block 25
C/D onwards. The system allows beyond-visual-range
engagements with AMRAAM missiles. The AN/APG-
68(V)9 is the variant fitted to Block 50/52 aircraft. Air-to-
air modes include track-while-scan of up to ten targets,
range-while-search, velocity search, rapid resolution,
up-look search, situational awareness mode and an
automatic acquisition air combat mode. Weight:
164.2kg Range: 296km
AN/APG-76
The AN/APG-76 multi-mode radar system was
developed as an upgrade for the Israeli F-4 Phantom
2000 programme. The system features a mechanically
scanned flat-plate antenna. Air-to-air modes include
look-up/look-down, air combat and beacon modes.
Air-to-ground modes include real-beam mapping,
Doppler-beam sharpening, synthetic aperture radar/
ground moving target indication and beacon tracking.
AN/APG-77
The AN/APG-77 is a low-probability-of-intercept fire
control radar for the F-22 Raptor. It is designed to
significantly improve capability in air-to-air combat,
allowing the pilot to track and shoot at multiple threats
before the adversary’s radar detects the aircraft. The
antenna is an AESA with a separate transmitter and
receiver for each of the radiating elements to provide the
agility, radar cross-section and bandwidth needed.
AN/APG-80
The AN/APG-80 is an agile beam radar with an AESA
antenna designed to continuously search for and track
multiple targets within the forward hemisphere of the
aircraft. The radar was originally intended for use on
the F-16/ F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons. First orders
of the radar were delivered by Northrop Grumman to
Lockheed Martin for the F-16 Block 6
